comstac stowg commercial spaceport licensing review: survey results, white paper summary, and...
DESCRIPTION
Surveyed Sections 14 CFR Environmental Assessment 2.Explosive Site Plan 3.Development of a Flight Corridor 4.Risk Analysis of Flight Corridor 5.Launch Site Accident Investigation Plan 6.Handling of Propellants 7.Lightning Protection 05/10/2012COMSTAC STOWG3TRANSCRIPT
COMSTACSTOWG
Commercial Spaceport Licensing Review:Survey Results, White Paper Summary, and
Recommendations
May 10, 2012
COMSTAC STOWG 2
White Paper and Survey• October 2011 COMSTAC - STOWG
accepted the task to develop a white paper to recommend changes to the regulations 14 CFR Part 420
• STOWG developed an online survey• COMSTAC, Commercial Spaceflight
Federation and FastForward Project notified its members of the survey
• STOWG received a total of 28 responses
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Surveyed Sections 14 CFR 420
1. Environmental Assessment2. Explosive Site Plan3. Development of a Flight Corridor4. Risk Analysis of Flight Corridor5. Launch Site Accident Investigation Plan6. Handling of Propellants7. Lightning Protection
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Results of Survey
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Results of Survey
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• 8 respondents were identified as “Spaceport/Launch Site Owner”, “Launch Vehicle Manufacture” or “Launch Vehicle Operator”
• 20 respondents were “Consultant” or “Other”
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Results of Survey
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• In general, the survey results indicate a difference in opinion between spaceports/launch vehicle operators and that of consultants and other respondents
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Survey Results: Open Responses
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Findings
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• Difference in perspective of the relevance of launch site licensing requirements between spaceports and consultants– Spaceports- Express more change needed– Consultants- Express less change needed
• The general consensus is that regulations are a better fit for vertical launch orbital launch sites than for horizontal suborbital launch sites– The latter can benefit from modular “right fit” approach
• The least relevant requirements were identified as:– Propellant Handling– Lightning Protection
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Recommended Next Steps
1) Discuss observations with COMSTAC STOWG and seek additional input to this report.
2) Review potential methods for re-aligning the regulations with the commercial spaceflight industry.
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Option 1• Develop appendix to Part 420
or guidelines
Option 2 • Modify Part 420 to be modular
Option 3 • Start Over
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Recommended Next Steps
3) Select a recommended approach and submit recommendations to COMSTAC to present to FAA/AST.
4) Form a STOWG subcommittee to further refine details on the final recommendations, in conjunction with FAA/AST. Report back in October 2012.
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Contacts• Brian Gulliver, PE – RS&H, Spaceport Planning
• Oscar S. García – IFG, Chairman [email protected]
• Debra Facktor Lepore – Chairman, COMSTAC STOWG; DFL Space LLC, President, & Stevens Institute of Technology, Industry Professor [email protected]
• Jeff Greason – XCOR Aerospace, President [email protected]
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